The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher from Moore Catholic HS and Adelphi University agreed to a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox Thursday and joined the Class AA Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League in time for Friday night's road game here against the Binghamton Mets.

"I only played three holes," Lanigan said of his abbreviated round at Bethpage. "I'm grateful (to the Red Sox) for the opportunity."

Released by the Minnesota Twins organization at the end of June, Lanigan was was 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 23 appearances, all in relief, for the New Britain Rock Cats, also of the Eastern League.

In 2012, the first year he was used exclusively as a reliever, the Dongan Hills resident made 22 appearances for New Britain and 22 for the Twins' AAA affiliate in Rochester, where he went 6-2 with a 4.69 ERA.

Lanigan didn't have any idea about how the Sea Dogs would be using him, but probably got a good inkling in his first hours at his new job. Portland put Lanigan right to work, sending the right-hander into the game in the seventh inning to protect a 5-3 lead.

PITCHES IN FIRST GAME

Lanigan pitched three innings and ended up with a hard-luck blown save when a ninth-inning infield error led to two unearned runs. Lanigan allowed three hits, walked two and struck out two, throwing 62 pitches, 37 for strikes. Portland ended up winning in 15 innings.

"I've been throwing," Lanigan said before the game. "I threw a bullpen (workout) with (Moore Catholic coach Nick DeFendis') Richmond County team and I threw one Thursday (to former college teammate Steve Malvagna after cutting short the Bethpage round), so I am ready to go."

Lanigan said last week he hoped to get picked up by another organization, but conceded, "It's a tough time to be a free agent."

Nonetheless, the timeline worked out well for him, not that he can explain it.

"My agent (ex-big leaguer Joe Sambito) texted me about 3 o'clock (Thursday) and said the Red Sox might be making an offer," Lanigan said. "An hour later, I was talking to someone from the Red Sox organization who was telling me where to report."

Portland is in second place in the Eastern League's Eastern Division, trailing Binghamton, which has the league's best record.

"There were teams interested that had no room," Lanigan said. "Sometimes opportunities just come out of nowhere. I just hope to make the most of it." 